Ls7 accessory fitment

[rx7boss]

I just picked up a cheap ls7 from a buddy of mine and I have decided to take the plunge and remove my trusty rotary out of my fd.I have many decisions that I am on the fence about with this build because their isn't too much documentation on pure ls7 builds.Hopefully you guys can make my decisions a tad bit easier with a couple answers to my questions. I've read that with the ls7 mounted in a samberg engine mount that the alternator on the ls7 will hit the hood.Is there enough clearance where if I chop into the stock hood it will close or does it stick up so much that I would have to cut a hole in the hood for the hood to close?

[radiomike]

Your biggest issue will be that the dry sump does not fit with the Samberg x member, you can convert to F body wet sump and shorten the crank or rework the dry sump.  The Z28 accessories should fit in an FD, they are similar if not the same as Camaro LS3.  Ignore the idler on the left head, this is where the PS pump normally fits but they have now gone to electric PS.

[rx7boss]

I have a reworked dry sump pan from Samberg that fits in his x member so that fitment isn't the issue.I am at a cross roads however where wet sump seems the easier choice because I would not have to deal with the placement of dry sump reservoir. I just want a beast of a car that feels like it came from the factory with a v8 .You know a car that has ac,heater don't have to pull off the bumper to change oil ect.This is not going to be my track car so it doesn't necessarily have to have a dry sump. (I used to drive a 600hp rotary monster on the street sounded like a tin can inside,im tired of that!).Do you have any idea if the stock ls7 accessories will fit with just a little bit of cutting on the hood?

[radiomike]

I have not tried the Corvette accessories so unable to help.  Could you post some pictures of the modified dry sump, I would be interested to know how it is done as the oil passages to the pump are part of the casting.

[gnx7]

I ran '98-02 style Fbody accessories by getting an ATI harmonic balancer with the correct offset.

To make the dry sump pan work you need to have Samberg cut/weld it to clear the steering rack.... or you can retain the stock one and lower the rack (I did this) and run longer bump steer correction.  The Samberg method is better.

Factory heads have issues with the valve guides.  If GM hasn't replaced them already (recall) then you need to do this.  The valves get too much play in the guides and the tip of the valve snaps off causing block destruction.  You should also replace the valves with a quality s/s unit and run dual springs... plus a bigger cam   Since the heads will be off... mill them for as much compression as the fuel you plan to run.  11.5:1 can run 91.  12:1 can use 93.  13.5:1 works on e85.  Every full compression point is about 3% more power.

The stock oil pump has a thin cover on it that deflects (doesn't make a perfect seal to the pump itself around 5000rpm (in my case)) under pressure when pushed hard.  My motor above 5000rpm would hold 55psi and not gain any pressure up to 7000rpm+.  The remedy is either make your own aluminum front cover that is thicker (water jet/CnC)... or buy the $800 Katech unit.  For a street driven car this isn't really a problem... but if you plan to road race it and beat the daylights out of it for 20-30 mins... do the upgrade.  I sold my motor and am going to a Dailey billet real dry sump system most likely on the 441ci motor.

I mounted the oil tank behind the passenger seat and ran the lines under the car to the oil pan.  They make adapaters so you can run -12AN hose from pan to tank.  The lines had protective covers around them (aluminum bent) under the car.  My oil changes were pretty simple.  Access to the tank was a large allen socket drain with a silver dollar size hole cut in the floor. 

Any major bend in the intake prior to the TB will suck up power.  Samberg makes a nice radiator/intake kit that is a very straight shot.  Doing your own intake with a 90* bend will suck up 20-30rwhp.

[rx7boss]

You wouldn't happen to have the exact specs of the hb so I can get ati to make that fbody dampner?My buddy has some 06 gto accessories from ebay that I want to run if clearancing for my ls7 alternator doesn't work out,but from what I've been reading I need to get an fbody ac compressor regardless because the gto/ls7 one sticks out too far for me to get ac plumbing to the compressor.

[gnx7]

sold the motor

call ATI and tell them what you are doing.  They can easily make you one.